The Retail Council of Canada and eight major grocery chains will phase out controversial sow gestation crates in their pork supply chains in response to an undercover investigation at a Manitoba hog plant.
Mercy for Animals Canada made its cruelty concerns public last December, and now has grocery stores on its side, including Safeway, Sobeys, Wal-Mart, Superstore and Costco.
Hidden camera footage was taken during a three-month investigation at a Puratone plant in Manitoba’s Interlake.
It documents the use of gestation crates— a practice that prevents pregnant pigs from turning around. Several other countries have banned them because their use is widely considered to be inhumane.
The grocery stores on board have committed to finding alternate housing options for the pigs that supply their products, by the end of 2022.
